Glow: Activated
From Reflection to Realignment
After hitting pause in my last blog (Glow-Up Interrupted), I promised I’d be back when the light returned. Well, it’s back. But it’s not the same glow—it’s deeper, wiser, and unapologetically mine.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve done something most of us forget is allowed: Rest. Reflect. Recalibrate.
And I don’t just mean I took a nap and called it wellness (though yes, naps were absolutely involved). I mean the kind of intentional pause where you step out of the noise, stop proving, and start listening—to your body, your intuition, your joy.
Sometimes, it takes unplugging from the world to finally hear yourself again.
What the Glow Break Taught Me
This in-between season wasn’t just a break. It was a slow return to myself. A reset rooted in clarity, not chaos. And let me tell you: when you stop trying to prove and start truly being, the glow doesn’t just return—it deepens. Here’s what lit the way back:
✨ I leaned into wellness—but on my terms.
This wasn’t about chasing a number on a scale or punishing myself into kale submission. It was about feeling better—moving more, eating well, and reconnecting with what nourishes me.
I embraced a Greek-Mediterranean-meets-real-life lifestyle: more home-cooked meals, fewer sad desk lunches, and finally remembering I don’t need to reinvent dinner every night—just rotate it smartly.
We planted herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers… Greek salad vibes all around. And yes, I’m the only Greek person you know who doesn’t eat feta. I accept your judgment. (But I will be the one bringing the lemony dressing and fresh oregano. Balance.)
✨ I recommitted to my morning rituals.
Coffee (obviously). A little prayer. And my three daily gratitudes—which, let’s be honest, has turned into more of a rolling highlight reel. Some are deep. Some are delightfully random:
That glorious hydrangea my mom and I found at Home Depot with blooms that shaded from periwinkle to mauve like a plant straight out of Pinterest. We snagged it—and made eye contact with a woman who knew she’d hesitated too long.
A walk along the waterfront path that led to a spectacular sunset—yes, even in Brooklyn— on one of those rare, non-monsoon days this season.
Reframing all this endless rain as Mother Nature handling my daily Garden watering duties. (Sunshine welcome... but maybe let’s keep it under 100 degrees, yes?)
Gratitude isn’t always about the grand stuff. It’s about noticing the small moments that make you smile. (More on this in The Power of Gratitude: Small Things, Big Impact.)
💎 Glow Gem
The glow isn’t gone. It’s just waiting for you to plug back in.
Your light. Your timing. Your terms.
✨ I traded autopilot for actual presence
I stopped scheduling myself into oblivion. Some days, that opened space for creativity. Other days? I literally watched paint dry. Yes, watched it dry… And no, I still haven’t chosen the final color. Growth takes time, okay?
✨ I redefined what a “glow-up” means… for me
It’s not about landing a fancy job title or locking in a five-year plan. It’s not even about how you present on the outside. It’s the calm, grounded confidence that comes from being fully at home with yourself—whether you’re chasing a dream, shifting directions, or just figuring it out as you go.
Yes, some people glow in sweats and yesterday’s mascara. Others feel most like themselves with lipstick and earrings, even on a grocery run. (Hi, that’s me.)
But either way, the glow-up isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about becoming more of who you really are.
🌟 Your Glow Starts Here
You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the next step.
You don’t need a perfect plan. Just a little courage—and maybe a carry-on bag that zips.
This next season? It’s about choosing joy, claiming your peace, and showing up like you belong in the life you’re creating. Because you do.
Now… are you ready to glow?
Coming Soon
🌊 A Big Fat Greek Glow-Up?
In a few weeks, I head to Greece for what I’m affectionately calling our Big Fat Greek Family Adventure—but first, a special stop with my husband to celebrate a milestone anniversary. 💛
Yes, I’m pre-packing snacks.
No, I will not be responsible for anyone else’s passport.
And yes, I’m fully prepared for at least one adult child to bring two pairs of underwear for a two-week trip. (Wash and wear, wash and wear.)
There’s something beautifully full-circle about taking this trip now, in this season of life, with a heart that feels clear and open again. There will be stories. There will be laughs. There will be Rakomelo—that warm Greek honey liqueur you didn’t know you needed. And you better believe there will be blog posts. 💙